I just got a crib for my baby and I heard that a bumper pad is dangerous for babies. My question is do any of you know of another alternative of something to put around the sides so that the baby doesn't bump into the railings when they are sleeping? I'm sure it is not the most comfortable thing for a baby to roll over and have their face squish into the rails when they are trying to sleep. What is a safe way to make a crib comfortable for a baby?
Thanks Ladies! That is all very helpful! Does anyone know if there is a certain age that it is considered "safe" to use bumpers? (like if they are able to sit up or crawl?)
I didn't have bumpers with either of my sons and they never squished into or got stuck in the rails.
The recommendation is that you don't put anything in the crib besides the baby.
My kids all had bumpers. It seems everything is a hazard today. I preferred not to deal with a broken arm or leg that got caught in between the rails. I have never known anyone who had problems with bumpers. Do what u think is best for you.
Also years ago babies slept on their bellies and would scoot all over their crib very early on. Without bumpers they would have banged their little heads.
You can be safe and you can never satisfy 'them' who keep coming up with new 'hazzards'. You could use the mesh bumpers, or you could put nothing in the bed and spend your whole life getting the baby out of the rails. When my kids were little there was only one kind of bumper and it was the regular ones, not mesh. All 8 of my kids lived. The only thing you need to really check is that the bed is a regular sized crib so there is plenty of room between the baby and the bumper and that they aren't right up against it. However, at some point they will move around and can move by the bumper. Just check on them. I wouldn't want to encourage danger or risk you child's life but on the other hand we can go to extremes on some of this 'safety'. I think it's more dangerous to have legs or arms hanging out the rails and especially for a very small baby.
I used mesh bumper pads.
I would think mesh bumpers are what you are looking for, but when American Academy of Pediatrics can out with the warning that bumpers should not be used, that included every kind of bumper (even the mesh, breathable ones). According to them, the worry that your baby could get squished between the bars of the crib or injured from the crib is not really an issue. I used regular bumpers with my now 2 year old, but with this next one that is coming in February, I think I will go with the recommendation to not have ANYTHING lining the crib rails. I hope you can find something that you feel comfortable with. Good luck shopping!
Mesh bumpers are safer. There are also pads that you can put around each bar. Since there is still a small amount of space between each pad, less chance of blocked breathing. I had a catalogue with several options but cannot remember the name. I just googled and came up with Wonder Pads. Another option if you are crafty is creating a pad for each 2 slats. That is what a friend did several years ago. She used a nice cloth and then coordinating ribbon to tie it on.
Mesh bumpers or breathable bumpers. They'll keep legs and arms in but aren't a suffocation hazard like the pillow ones.
currently they say the safest way is no bumper.. no blankets no stuffed thinigs in teh bed.. just the baby sleeping on his back.
however my kids had bumpers.
